UK-bound great white shark Lydia could be PREGNANT

It is now thought the 2,000lb fish may change course and head for warmer birthing grounds in the Mediterranean.

The UK-bound great white shark known as Lydia could be PREGNANT, claims the head of the expedition tracking the beast.

The 2,000lb satellite-tagged fish is the first of its kind seen to cross from one side of the Atlantic to the other, and although she has now turned towards the UK, it is thought she may head for warmer birthing grounds in the Mediterranean.

Lydia, who at 4.4m is longer than the average family car, was found by scientists in Florida last year, and thanks to a fitted tracking device, can be pinpointed every time her fin breaks the surface of the ocean.

Chris Fischer, the founding chairman of the Ocearch shark tagging venture, told the BBC: "I would guess that Lydia is pregnant, and that she has been out in the open ocean gestating her babies and that this spring she will lead us to where those baby white sharks are born - the nursery."

Mr Fischer, who has led numerous ocean expeditions, added: "If you forced me to guess where that was, I'd say it was over in the Mediterranean, near Turkey... but that's longball I'm playing.

"She could turn around right now and head back to Florida."

Mr Fischer said there had been sightings of great white sharks in UK waters before.

However, he added: "I think these were anecdotal versus a documented presence.